Envelop-clasp.



No. 756,712. PATENTED APR. 5, 1904. A. DE SAINT GHAMAS.

BNVELOP CLASP. nrmomron rum) JULY 10. 1903.

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I A. DE SAINT GHAMAS. I

ENVELOP CLASP. nrmoumn rnnn JUL! 10. 1903.

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ATTORNEYS Patented April 5, 190 1.

PATENT ()FFICE.

ALBERT DE SAINT CHAMAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENVELOP-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,712, dated April 5, 1904.

Application filed July 10, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT DE SAINT CHA- ivLAs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Clasps, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in fastening clasps or clips, and has application to a certain novel and useful .device adapted particularly for sealing and closing envelops.

In carrying out my invention I have particularly in view as an object the provision of a clasp or fastener which will securely seal an envelop or similar receptacle in such manner that the latter may be quickly and rapidly opened by the postal authorities or other persons to permit the contents to be inspected and such envelop then be readily closed and sealed again.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clasp or clip which shall embody the essential and desired features ofsimplicity,durability, lightness, and strength in addition to convenience of use-that is to say, the clasp may be readily adjusted and removed, while at the same time it will form a safe and reliable closure.

I/Vith the above-recited objects and others of a similar nature in view my invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as is described in this specification, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a view of an envelop sealed through the agency of my improved fastener. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the mouth or upper edge portion of the envelop, showing the fastener applied thereto. Fig.3 is alongitudinal sectional view taken through an envelop having my clasp applied thereto, showing the relative positions of the tongues of the clasp and the top edge portion of the envelop when the clasp is in use; and Figs. 4:, 5, and 6 are plan views, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view, show- Serial No. 164,964. (No model.)

ing slightly-modified forms of clasps. Fig. 8 is a View showing the application to an envelop of a fastener such as is illustrated in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a similar view taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, A designates an envelop or similar receptacle designed to have my improved fastener or clasp applied thereto, such clasp being designated as a whole by B. As will be seen, this clasp comprises a body portion in the form of a plate, preferably of relatively greater length than width, such plate being of metal or of any other suitable material, and the edges or corners of the plate are rounded or curved, as at 6 b 6 5, so that there will be no sharp projecting corners to catch and tear the material of the receptacle to which the fastener is applied. This plate has stamped therefrom at approximately the central portion thereof a plurality of upwardly-extending tongues c c, a slot or opening at d being formed between the edges of the tongue and the body portion of the plate, so as to allow the paper or material of the receptacle to be readily placed between the tongues and the plates, said slot being in most instances approximately U-shaped, this being due to the fact that the tongue, which is free or cut away from the body of the plate on three sides, is formed integral with said plate at its fourth side. Cut in the transverse sides of the plate, approximately in the same line as the longitudinal edges 0 c of the tongues, are the notches 5 7). These notched portions of the plate, in addition to acting as a guide for folding or bending the plate along the line approximately from notch to notch, also provide smooth curved edges against which the top of the envelop may rest when the device is in use. It will be observed in connection with this clasp that a central wall 0 is formed between the tongues c, this wall, in addition to adding to the stability of the device, acting as a means for protecting the edge of the envelop when the fastener is applied thereto.

From the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and manner of using the fastener will be readily apparent. When it is desired to apply the fastener to an envelop, the upper edge of the latter is folded or bent over, as shown at A A in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, and the tongues c a of the clasp are bent out slightly from the plate and slipped or inserted beneath the fold, so that they occupy the position shown in dotted lines in said figures. The

plate forming the clasp is then folded or bent upon itself on approximately a longitudinal line extending from one notch b to the other, so that the upper portion of the plate above said line lies approximately parallel with the lower portion of the platethat is to say, the plate is folded or doubledand as the edge of the envelop lies between the doubled portions of the plate, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the envelop will be securely and safely sealed.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that one portion of the plate B, which I have designated by B, bears against one face of the envelop, while the opposite portion of the plate B (designated by B bears upon the opposite side of said envelop, the material of the latter being clamped between said portions B and B In Fig. 5 is shown another form of my fastener, there being in this instance but one relatively long tongue 0 instead of two of such portions, as hereinbefore described. In Fig. 6 the side edges of the tongue 0* are slightly inclined toward each other instead of lying approximately parallel, as do the sides of the tongue members 0 0 hereinbefore referred to. By reference to Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 it will be seen thata clasp is shown substantially like that described in detail with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4:; but the lower edge portion of the clasp, as shown at B", is bent back upon the body portion, so that when the upper edge of the clasp is bent for the purpose of applying the device to an envelop said device will be provided with a compound fold or bend. When a clasp having the fold B is applied to an envelop, such as is shown in Fig. 2, this fold B will cover the open edge portion or mouth of the bag or envelop, thereby protecting such part from injury through tearing and the like. The crease of the fold B will cover the edge of the mouth portion, while the main part of the fold will extend inward and upward between the body of the bag and the folded edge thereof. The clasp shown in Figs.

7, 8, 9, and 10 is also provided with a plurality of tongues 0 0 The numerous advantages incident to my device other than those above described will be immediately evident. For instance, the clasp can be used many times upon any envelop or similar receptacle and leavessuch receptacle in perfect conditionthat is to say, does not tear or otherwise injure or mar the sameand, if desired, one clasp can be used to seal several envelops at the same time-that is to say, the envelops may be placed one upon the other with their open edge portions in alinement and the clasp applied thereto in the ordinary manner.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction, as there may be modifications and variations in regard to details without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. For instance, the tongue portions may be cut in a variety of shapes and the clasp may be of any preferred size suitable for the purpose for which it is intended.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A clasp comprising a body portion in the form of a plate and adapted to be folded upon itself, atongue portion cut from said body portion in such manner that a U-shaped slot is formed between the tongue and the material of the body portion, said tongue being adapted to have its free end lie adjacent to and parallel with the fold of the body portion, and a second fold formedin the plate at the opposite edge portions from the first-mentioned fold, substantially as set forth.

2. A clasp comprising a body portion having the lower edge thereof folded back upon the main portion, the opposite edge portion of the plate being also adapted to be folded back upon the main portion of the plate,and a tongue stamped from the material of said plate, a slot being formed between the plate and the tongue, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT DE SAINT CHAMAS.

Witnesses:

HENRY WEISSENBACH, Mrs. W. S. REED. 

